Inspired by heroism

About

I was born on October 4, 1957 in Biga, Manticao, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. I finished Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major in Accounting from Mindanao Institute of Technology – Iligan City, in 1978. I worked for almost 6 years at the National Irrigation Administration Region 10 Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.

In Good Shepherd

It was November 21, 1983 when our four Good Shepherd Sisters Consuelo Chuidian, Conception Conti, Catherine Loreto and Virginia Gonzaga, together with other Nuns, Priests, Protestant Pastors and other church workers perished in the MV Doña Cassandra tragedy. They were on their way to Banawa Hills, Cebu to attend a retreat. An article in a Good Shepherd book described: “By mid-morning, a big wave hit one side of the boat causing it to keel to the other side. It did not recover its balance and sank in shark infested waters off the coast of Northeastern Mindanao.” “Survivors told of the four sisters, praying, helping distribute life vests, assisting and instructing children and other passengers to put theirs on, instructing other passengers to hasten towards the life rafts to be ready to abandon ship, not calculating how little time they had to save themselves until time run out.” The witnessing of the sisters to give their life for those under their care spurred me to respond to God’s call to enter the Good Shepherd Contemplative community. This became the foundational experience of my vocation. I made my first Profession October 7, 1988 and Final Vows October 7, 1993.

The Challenges

Since Postulancy in 1985, I was made Bookkeeper in our Cebu community. After Final Vows in 1993, I was missioned to our new foundation in Butuan City. There, I learned how to nurture for Mother Earth.

In 1997, God called me back to our community in Cebu to be In-Charge of our Altar Bread Department. Working with our Good Shepherd Mission Partners is life-giving. It made me realize that we are partners in our mission of making Hosts which will become the Body of Christ.

In 2000, God called me to a new responsibility as Local Leader of our community in Cebu. It was difficult being young and inexperienced but God was there all along. I am grateful for the trust of our Province Leader who named me as member of the Major Council.

The Inspiration

The words of St Mary Euphrasia: “I belong to every nation where there are souls to be saved” inspired me to volunteer as a Missionary. So, in June 2005, I had the opportunity to join our Contemplative community in Innsbruck, Austria. It was an enriching experience to learn the Austrian culture and German language. The Internationality of our Congregation then became a lived experience for me.

I am back to the Good Shepherd Philippine Province since June 16, 2012. Now, I am a member of the Province Leadership Team. The recent 30th Congregational Chapter after the Reunification which I was privileged to attend all the more enlivened my zeal for the Mission.